On November 17, 2021, the EEOC updated its technical guidance on COVID-19 and anti-discrimination with a new anti-retaliation section.
The new section largely restates existing statutory anti-retaliation protections in the context of COVID-19. The guidance provides several examples of COVID-related protected activity, which include filing a charge with the EEOC
In recent weeks, there have been numerous widely reported incidents of employees, particularly those in the health care industry, claiming that they have been retaliated against for reporting health and safety concerns related to COVID-19. Such complaints are indicative of the kinds of whistleblower and retaliation claims employers are likely
As reported in Proskauer’s Labor Relations Update blog, the NLRB issued an important opinion on December 17, 2019 relating to employer rules requiring confidentiality from employees during workplace investigations. Apogee Retail LLC d/b/a Unique Thrift Store, 368 NLRB No. 144 (2019).
The Board held, in a reversal of
On Thursday March 23, 2017 at 9:00 a.m., Lloyd Chinn will speak on “Practical Advice and Tips for Managing Whistleblowing Employees: Where Do We Go After the Volcano Blows?” at the 2017 Midwinter Meeting of the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law’s Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee in Puerto
On Monday, February 27, 2017, Proskauer Partner Steve Pearlman, co-head of the Firm’s Whistleblowing & Retaliation Group, will present on key considerations for crafting effective employment-related agreements, including separation and settlement agreements, at a program developed by Compliance Week and Financial Research Associates. This in-depth conversation will allow senior compliance,
On September 27, 2016, Proskauer Partner Steven J. Pearlman, co-head of the Whistleblowing & Retaliation Practice Group, participated in a Bloomberg webinar with Jane Norberg, Acting Chief of the SEC Office of the Whistleblower, MaryAnn Garrahan, Director of OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program, and plaintiff-side practitioner, Jason Zuckerman. The participants discussed: the SEC Whistleblower Reward Program; OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program; confidentiality and other limitations in severance and settlement agreements; protected disclosures under SOX and Dodd-Frank; best practices for addressing internal disclosures and the impact of the whistleblower provision of the Defend Trade Secrets Act.
OSHA has issued new guidance on approving settlement agreements in whistleblower cases, revising portions of its Whistleblower Investigations Manual. The guidance, dated August 23 but not released until September 15, states that settlements approved by OSHA cannot contain provisions discouraging employees from making future disclosures or contacting the government. It also sets forth other settlement provisions that OSHA will refuse to accept, including: (i) waiving the right to a monetary reward; (ii) requiring the employee to return a portion of a cash reward to the employer; (iii) mandating a worker notify the employer before contacting the government; and (iv) requiring the worker affirm to the employer that there were no other contacts with the government. The guidance further provides disclaimer language to be used to ensure that employees entering into settlement agreements understand their rights.
For the first time in nearly 20 years, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued proposed enforcement guidance regarding retaliation claims. According to the EEOC, the revised guidance is necessary in light of several court decisions, including the Supreme Court’s decision in Univ. of Tex. SW Med. Ctr. v. Nassar, 133 S. Ct. 2517 (2013), holding that retaliation claims under Title VII are subject to a “but-for” (as opposed to a “contributing factor”) causation standard. The EEOC also notes in its 76 page proposal that new guidelines are necessary because the percentage of retaliation charges has nearly doubled since 1998, when the agency last issued guidance regarding retaliation claims.
This morning, Lloyd Chinn, co-Chair of Proskauer’s Whistleblowing & Retaliation Group, joined a distinguished panel, including Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith, on a panel discussing the DOL’s recently expanded Whistleblower Protection Program and its recently modified procedures for investigating and adjudicating whistleblower claims. The expert panel offered practical insights
As reported this week by Law360 (subscription required), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently issued a reminder (Regulatory Notice 14-40) warning firms against the use of confidentiality provisions in settlement agreements that prohibit or otherwise restrict customers or anyone else (such as current employees) from communicating with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), FINRA, or any federal or state regulatory authority regarding a possible securities law violation.